As death records do not start until 1878 I was wondering what my options would be for finding out info on the death of my 4th great grandfather, Robert Spencer... not even sure how other relatives have found that death date...
Do you think requesting a will or probate would help? I thought about churches but chances are the churches that were around in 1862 (if any) would still be around today... not sure what would happen to any records from those churches now...
I have looked through cemetery lists and unless I totally missed him, he is not listed there...
By amy chance could he have been a Latter Day Saint? My grgrandfather was and I had never heard that from any family member before until a new cousin told me. I'd never of thought to check the LDS website. Just an avenue to check off. Otherwise I would say will/probate. Thats my next option. Could he be in with other more recent family gravesites that are in a cem not translated? You figure out as I am stuck same place with an 1867 or so death. What about Civil War pensions? Ardith
Not sure about the religion on my Spencers... Good point though... I should take a look at that avenue...
I mailed out a letter to the historical society in Canton today to wsee what they had on Spencers and also asked for any ideas on how to serach/verify the death of Robert...
I probably should have emailed the lady in charge today instead of a mailing... The paper I received from the courthouse with the deeds had attached a flyer on what was offered and such at their office and then it was suggested to contact the libraries in the area (there were two) and the historical society by mail or email... and the email was listed on the plyer I believe... Unless of course my husband wrote it on there for some reason... which I don't think happened...
I will definitely let you know what response I get, if any...
http://www.illinoisancestors.org/fulton/ Have you been to this website? Worth a try. Otherwise the two libraries you speak of is the Lewistown carnigie, which is small compared to the Canton Parlin-Ingersol. I have not looked up geneology in Carnegie Library, but have done so in Canton. One of my trips will be to visit the Lewistown one where actually I am a cardholder, been a few years. Ardith
Thanks for the link... I looked through some of it this morning... Haven't found anything YET but lots more to go through...
I have my letter ready to send to Fulton County today to request Robert's will/probate... I am hoping to find some answers there... I am almost positive there will be a will at least...
Thanks again for the link! It looks like it is a good one!
He was living in Cuba,Il. in 1870. Maybe Robert was buried at the Cuba Cem. I wonder if there might be funeral home records that go that far back for Cuba? What happened to the rest of the family that was living with Robert? His wife and children?
There is an index of wills for Fulton County ask for someone look it up for you. Lots of helpful people for Fulton Co. Probate records are worth looking into. They are very helpful at the courthouse.
Tina, I didn't know anything about the Cuba Cemetery... I will definitely ask for some help there...
I can not find his wife in 1870 or 1888 but her death record (Rebecca (Shreyer) Spencer) is in Calhoun County, Illinois where her already married child, Mary Catherine (Spencer) Carnes lived.
All the children moved on... John was in TX in 1880- through 1920 and was in the Union Printers Home in El Paso, CO in 1930 and died in 1934 and is buried in Colorado...
Nancy married (supposedly) a Harry Aldridge but can't find a marriage anywhere but she is living with her brother John in TX in 1900 and 1910.. she is listed as Nancy Aldridge... she died November 25, 1915 in Waco, TX and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Waco... I have contacted the funeral home so we will see... I don't hold out much hope since I recently learned that HIPPA law is stopping the sharing of funeral home records... which really bites...
Their oldest child, Elizabeth married in 1851 and was already out of the home but loved to Fulton County also... Supposedly she died in 1864...
Then Ellen/Sarah married a George W. Taylor in Fulton County in 1869 but I can't find them yet in the 1870 census ANYWHERE!!!
Again I would like to try the funeral home angle... just not sure of the funeral homes and whether I would be able to get anything... I actually sent out a letter yesterday asking for a will/probate for Robert... Not sure there is one but I have a good suspicion there was... We shall see I guess...
I have had good luck with the courthouse so far... they seem VERY nice up to this point... I am sure it will remain the same...
Thanks for the tips... I was thinking maybe church records... just having trouble finding addresses...
I'm not sure this is anything to you, but I was looking thru my Clanin line info and found marriages to Spencers and of course births. My Clanins were in Fulton Co. IL and Kansas and Ohio and Indiana. Some started in Il and moved on, who knows who went with them. Anyway, it looks like Spencers came in abt mid 1850's , a Jackson Spencer(b. 22 Nov 1818 in Greenville Darke Co. Ohio) marrying a Hannah Clanin(b. 1842 Greenville, Darke Co. Ohio) Their children are also shown born in Ohio and Swayzee Grant Co. Ind. I have not looked into these people personally, just info passed to me. Ardith
My Spencers came from Ohio around 1855... As far as I know Robert, Rebecca and children all came... The two oldest girls were already married but they came as a group... My direct line stopped and lived the rest of their lives in Calhoun County and Robert and Rebecca went on to Fulton... Robert's father had land in Fulton starting in the mid 1830's... I am thinking that is why Robert ended up there...
I will check into the Jackson Spencer and see where it takes me... Thanks for passing on the info!